Styx pointed toward a map that had been pinned to the wall. “He possesses the most detailed maps of Illinois. Viper asked if we could borrow them.”
“And he left his lair to bring them?” His attention returned to the large, feral vampire who was speaking softly with Viper. “Amazing.”
“Not really.” Styx’s smile was cold. “I can be quite persuasive when I issue an invitation.”
Persuasive? More like lethal.
“Are you sure it’s safe?” he growled, still not pleased at having the vampire near Anna.
Styx shrugged. “He is…unstable and fiercely independent, but he knows better than to stir my anger.”
Cezar smiled wryly. “Don’t we all?”
Amusement briefly flickered through the dark golden eyes before the hard, aloof expression returned.
“How is Anna?”
“Scared.”
“I meant, how did she receive the information that you mated her while she was unconscious?”
Cezar shoved a hand through his hair, which he’d left loose after his shower. Anna seemed to like running her fingers through it, and he liked letting her.
“Actually she received it better than I could ever have hoped,” he muttered, still in awe at the memory of her ready acceptance of his bonding. He had spent hours preparing himself for her fury, even hatred. What he hadn’t prepared himself for was her desire to complete the ceremony. Dios. He’d rather have taken a stroll through the sun than to deny her request. “Better than she should have.”
Styx lifted his brows, easily sensing Cezar’s raw flare of pain. “Tell me what troubles you.”
“She desires to complete the ceremony,” he admitted.
The dark eyes narrowed. “Should I offer my congratulations?”
Cezar briefly closed his eyes as his heart clenched with longing. “You were right before. We both know that Anna’s future belongs to the Oracles.”
“Perhaps…”
“No, Styx.” Cezar gave a sharp shake of his head. “I will not allow myself to hope for the impossible.”
Styx gave a small nod of understanding, knowing as well as Cezar that not even the most powerful vampire could fight the will of the Oracles.
Before he could offer his sympathies, Styx was jerking his head toward the door, sensing the approaching vampire servant before the door was pushed open.
Entering the room, DeAngelo bowed low at the sight of his king. “My lord.”
“What is it?”
“An imp is at the door.” The vampire grimaced. “He requested to speak with Conde Cezar.”
Styx gave a hiss of annoyance. “Is it Troy?”
“That is the name he gave.”
“Damn.” Styx struggled against his dislike for the flamboyant imp. “Tell him to join us.”
“He said that he has information that he will…” There was another grimace from DeAngelo. “Sell only to the Conde.”
Styx growled low in his throat. “Troy needs to discover that vampires do not pay for information. I will deal with this.”
“No.” Cezar reached out to grasp Styx’s arm. “If he does have information of Morgana I won’t risk having him frightened away. You remain here and finish completing our plans. I will deal with Prince Troy.”
A forbidding frown marred Styx’s brow. “You should not go alone.”
“You don’t trust the imp?”
“I never trust those with fey blood.” At Cezar’s warning glance, Styx gave a laugh. “With the exception of your beautiful mate, of course.”
“Of course.” Cezar gave an impatient wave of his hand. He wanted to find out the information and then take a quick peek into the kitchen to make sure that Anna was eating as she should be and not brooding about the night ahead. “I think that I can deal with one imp.”
Styx looked as if he wanted to argue, but at Cezar’s stubborn expression he gave a grudging nod.
Wise vampire.
“As you wish.”
Clapping his friend on the shoulder, Cezar allowed DeAngelo to lead him down the hall to the front of the house. Once again he was struck by the homey feel of the place. It had to be Shay’s doing, he acknowledged wryly. Viper possessed an innate flamboyance that had made his various nightclubs a sensation throughout Chicago.
Halting in front of a closed door, the guard offered a bow before silently disappearing into the shadows.
Cezar paused for a moment, startled to discover his legs felt oddly weak. Damn. It had been too long since he’d last fed. Usually he was meticulous about his feedings. Being a pawn for the Oracles meant he never knew when he would be called to battle. Remaining at full strength was key to his survival.
Besides, if he were perfectly honest with himself, he hadn’t wanted to drink the bottled blood. Not after tasting the sweetness of Anna’s vein.
Which was not only foolish, it was dangerous.
For now, Anna was strictly off the menu.
Promising himself he would feed as soon as he was done with the imp, Cezar shoved open the door and stepped into the long, dark room that was nearly overflowing with Viper’s vast collection of books.
He had no time to appreciate the thick leather tomes as he crossed toward the red-haired imp covered in a heavy black cloak, who was hovering near the window as if ready to bolt at the first sign of trouble.
Not an uncommon reaction. Most fey were uneasy entering the lair of a vampire, prince of imps or not.
Without bothering with preliminaries, Cezar halted directly before the imp. “You have information?”
A strange smile touched the long, pale face as Troy offered a stiff bow. “Conde.”
Cezar struggled to contain his sorely tested patience. “What is your information?”
Straightening, Troy pressed a hand to his chest, a feverish glitter in his eyes as he studied Cezar with an unnerving intensity.
“First, I must know, did you mate the woman?”
Cezar’s brows snapped together. “What?”
“Did you mate the woman?”
“What the hell business is it of yours?”
“That’s the price for your information. Answer the question.”
Cezar hissed, reminding himself that this imp had helped Anna to flee from Morgana’s assassins. It was the only reason that the creature wasn’t on the floor having the shit beat out of him.
“Yes.”
“Then I have something for you.” Troy took a step closer. “A gift.”